Embracing Trouble (Trouble Series) (27 page)

My father straightened the cuffs of his business shirt.

“It’s not, but I can’t see why you have to be away from here. Invite Sophie over here. We will leave you alone to study”.

“Sure. I will mention it to her,” I lied swiftly. “Can I go now?”

“Are you coping with it all? Do you need anything from me?” he asked next.

I barely stopped myself from rolling my eyes at the absurdity of him trying to take an interest.

“I’m coping fine. I don’t need anything but to be left alone so I can concentrate,” I said, passing a resentful glare to Sarah.

“We only want what’s best for you,” added Sarah.

I turned away and headed out of the kitchen.

“Sure thing. Have to go,” I said, stopping myself from saying what I really wanted to say to the both of them.

As I walked into school later with Sophie, I cleared my head of the unspoken issues at home so I could show my support for her. I had discovered the secret to happiness, thanks to Zac and I felt invincible. I wanted some of it to rub off onto Sophie and make her not care about what any of them thought. School would be over soon and none of this would matter.

Sophie tried her hardest to be strong and kept her eyes adverted from anyone, trying not to hear the whispers and giggles. We spent lunchtime in the library, studying for our looming exams. Even the thought of all the hard work ahead of us, didn’t mar my happiness.

That night he picked me up from my house and took me on a date, much to my own surprise and delight. He had arrived with a bunch of orange lilies for me and whether he knew that Lily was my middle name or not, the thought warmed my heart. He took me to the outdoor drive-in movie theatre where we spent more time kissing and exploring each other than watching the movie. When he brought me home, I invited him in, knowing my father and Sarah would not be home until late. We made love on my single bed that night, and we curled up together and slept.

By the next morning, he had disappeared on me, but I curled into my pillow and found my phone on top of it. I opened it to see a photo of the two of us from this morning, with me asleep on his chest while he kissed the top of my head. It was so romantic, my heart melted. I held it close, missing him already.

I flicked to see if he had taken any more and came across a photo of an orange lily from the bunch, then another with the lily on my naked back as I slept and I blushed. There was another photo of what looked to be a piece of paper or an envelope, but I flicked back to the photo of the two of us and smiled happily.

At school, we watched Antony and Nathan laugh and muck around, oblivious to what was coming to them tomorrow night. Amelie was surprised but happy that Sophie was still coming to her party tomorrow. We told her just how much we were looking forward to it. She didn’t mind us bringing dates, and we were amused at the thought of Will and Noah being our dates.

I spent the night at Noah’s with Zac, feeling a new even deeper level of intimacy between us. I could no longer imagine being without him at all, and I was desperately in love.

“Be careful tomorrow night. Make sure if anything goes wrong that you tell Will. He’s sworn to me that he will protect you with his life,” he said, his expression serious.

I kissed his bare chest as my fingers travelled over his tattoo, following the outline over and over again.

“Okay.”

“I’m going to be there by 11:00. After that, you must go home.”

“I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“Don’t worry about me, Ava, I can look after myself. Promise me you’ll leave straight after they go into the room.”

“Okay,” I said.

“I don’t want you to have anything to do with this.”

“Okay,” I said again.

“Then you and Sophie can concentrate on getting your lives back to normal.”

Something didn’t sound right with that. He kissed me again, wiping any doubts from my brain and I became lost once again in his arms.

Chapter Fourteen: To Ruin and Damage

Ava

Will and Noah escorted us into the club on Saturday night and slipped us the small drug capsules. They were soon making themselves discreet, by hanging at the side of the bar, drinking and keeping an eye on us.

I couldn’t relax as I wished Amelie a happy birthday and looked around for Nathan and Antony. I spotted them on the other side of the dance floor and felt nervous. In under a half hour, I was going to somehow slip drugs into their drinks. I looked at Sophie who looked as nervous as I did.

“Girls,” said Will coming over with a shot for each of us.

He leaned into my ear and whispered, “Relax, you’re meant to be having fun.”

I smiled, taking the shot and drinking it. He took my empty glass and winked at me as he walked away. I took a deep breath and turned to Sophie.

“Let’s do this.”

“Right now?” asked Sophie in a panic.

“No. Not yet. But we need to dance, get their attention, and show them there are no hard feelings.”

Sophie let out a deep breath.

“Let’s do it.”

I headed onto the dance floor, pulling Sophie with me. I started to dance to the music, trying to relax my body unsuccessfully until I closed my eyes and thought of Zac, my strength. I reopened them and locked eyes with Antony who was now watching me. I smiled coyly and continued to dance, my hips moving in time with the music. I pretended to laugh with Sophie and she gave me a strained smile and suddenly looked very pale.

I continued to dance, feeling the music with his eyes still on me. He gave a smug smile and said something to Nathan as I turned around, knowing my plan was working. I was supposed to be working on Nathan while Sophie was working on Antony, but she was only looking more and more uncomfortable. She moved rigidly, closing her eyes as if willing herself to do something she didn’t have it in her to do.

She opened her eyes and looked at me, shaking her head.

“I can’t do it.”

“It’s only ten more minutes,” I said to her while I continued to dance.

She shook her head again.

“I just can’t. I’m so sorry, Avs,” she said putting her capsule of the GHB in my hand.

Then she disappeared back into the crowd.

I swore and looked over at Antony who was still watching me. I got back into character and moistened my lips, putting my arms up and moving my hips with the beat. I locked eyes with Will across the room, and he silently asked me if I was okay to continue. I gave a slight nod and then flicked my hair back.

Antony was behind me and started to dance up against me.

“Where’s your boyfriend?” he said into my ear.

“I don’t have one,” I returned. “We broke up.”

He cocked an eyebrow up.

“Interesting.”

I leaned up against him, and asked, “And why’s that?”

He grinned, putting his hand on my arm.

“Want a drink?”

“I’d love one,” I said trying not to feel sick from the creep’s hand.

I felt the hatred and anger I had for him and pasted on a smile. I could do this.

Zac

I still didn’t want Ava to be a part of this and as I looked to Shara next to me in the taxi, I knew I had made the right decision. The sooner I got her out of there, the better off it would all be. I texted Will.

Zac:
I’m 15 mins away

Will responded instantly:
Sophie choked. Ava doing it by herself

Zac:
For fucks sake – this is exactly why I didn’t want them to be part of this! Get her away from them. We’re going to Plan B.

Will:
Chill. She’s eyed me saying she’s got it under control

Zac:
I don’t want him fucking touching her!

Will:
Chill the fuck out. She’s done it. She’s given me the sign. See you soon.

Anger riled up through me as I prepared myself for what was to come.

Ava

I laughed at something Antony said and looked at my phone. I had to wait four more minutes and then get him and Nathan to go upstairs. I watched them laugh together, examining if the dosage would take longer to work on them.

“Hello boys,” said a seductive voice.

I turned in disbelief to see Shara next to me.

“Well, hello,” said Antony looking her up and down with interest.

Shara giggled, eyeing them both.

“You look like you’re having fun over here.”

“We are now,” said Nathan.

I was lost for words and turned to look for Will to find out what the hell was going on and why the plans had changed. Why the hell was she here? My phone vibrated and I looked at the screen. Zac.

Zac:
Go home

I furiously responded:
Why the hell is Shara here?

Zac:
Ava – go home – NOW

I looked around the club, anger making me shake, to see if he had arrived and was watching me from somewhere, but I couldn’t find him. Will had already gone upstairs, because it was time for it all to happen.

Zac:
If you don’t fucking leave right now – I will throw you out myself

I nearly stomped my foot in fury and looked at Shara seeing her between both boys, giggling and letting them touch her. I pushed my way through the crowd and headed over to the spot where Will had been standing. I looked back over at Shara and saw her start to lead the boys away from the party.

My phone vibrated in my hand again.

Zac:
This is your final warning Ava. Stop making me fucking angry

I growled under my breath and turned around, heading towards the main entrance. I scowled as I stepped out into the night air, having no idea where Sophie had gone or what Zac was doing upstairs right now.

“Ava!”

I turned around and saw Tyler making his way out to me.

“Heading home?”

I nodded, too angry to talk.

“Zac just texted me, told me he wasn’t able to meet you tonight, so he asked if I could see you home safely.”

I looked at him in bewilderment, trying to process his words.

“What?”

“He wants you home safe, and I was leaving soon anyway.”

I tried to comprehend the length that Zac was going to, just to get me home. Why was he doing this? The whole night had changed and was turning ridiculous.

“You okay?” asked Tyler.

“I’m fine,” I said, remembering to smile. “A lift home would be great. Thanks, Tyler.”

Antony tried to see through the blurriness but couldn’t focus on one thing. Something had happened. He had been drugged, he was sure of it. Faces kept coming in and out of focus. Scary faces, like Halloween masks. Were they real? Fuck he hoped not. He was about to scream.

Someone was undressing him and he looked down to see the blonde girl. He was going to get lucky with her. Awesome.

She disappeared again and then he felt his arms being tied behind his back. He suddenly felt scared. Was she into kinky shit?

He suddenly saw Nathan in front of him and he had a blindfold on. He tried to ask him what he was doing but his mouth wouldn’t work.

He was then shoved down onto a chair and realized it was facing Nathan. The blonde girl was on his lap and starting to kiss him and he closed his eyes. He felt turned on but scared at the same time. She stopped for a moment and pressed her hands over his chest and then blindfolded him as well.

She returned to his mouth and started to kiss him passionately. She felt different all of a sudden, her mouth bigger but he put it down to whatever he had been slipped. Her hand went under his boxers and he groaned, wanting more. He kissed her with all his might and then everything stopped. He sat there with a hard on, ready for the next step, wanting more. Where had she gone?

Was Nathan groaning now? His ears were fuzzy and he felt like he was going to pass out.

Both blindfolds were then ripped off and two very scary masks were in front of their faces. They both tried to shout, but couldn’t. They tried to move but their hands were tied, along with their feet. When did that happen?

Antony heard Nathan yell something and then disappear from his sight. He tried to move to see what happened and then felt a blow to the head. His skin tingled and he could feel blood run down from his nose to his mouth. What the hell was happening?

There was another blow and then the chair was falling backwards to the ground. He crashed to the floor and passed out.

Ava

I spent Sunday worrying myself sick over the silence. He hadn’t called and every time I called him, it went straight to voicemail. I sent him numerous texts until I received a reply in the late afternoon.

He sent two words:
Talk soon

I didn’t expect that response and I had to wonder what the hell was going on. I curled up in bed and tried to make sense of it as I fell into an exhausted sleep.

Late Sunday night, I felt weird and a little crazy from not hearing from him. I snuck out of the house and went to Noah’s, but there was no answer. Lights were off and cars had gone. What the hell had happened?

On Monday morning, I walked into the school grounds with Sophie and realized something big was going on. We entered the locker hall and looked around at all the whispering and giggling as everyone looked at phones.